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Dunedin City Council – Kaunihera-a-rohe o Otepoti

Proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026

Last updated: 14 May 2026 4:38pm

Consultation Hearing details

Submissions closed 10/05/2026
Hearing 22 May 2026
Contact person Regulation and Policy Team Leader - 3 Waters

 

Additional public consultation

Introduction

The Dunedin City Council (DCC) recently held public consultation for the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026. Consultation opened on 2 March and closed on 2 April 2026. Eighteen submissions were received across various topics, including submissions regarding catchment management rules applicable to DCC owned catchment land. The purpose of this notification is to seek further feedback on amendments that are proposed to be made to the original proposal that specifically relate to access to water supply catchments for the purposes of hunting and trapping.

The DCC acknowledges the concerns expressed about potential access restrictions arising from the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026. The intention of the proposed catchment management rules was to formalise existing management approaches for the DCC’s water supply catchments. It was not intended for the rules to further restrict existing access arrangements for low impact recreational activities such as tramping/day walking, trail running and similar low impact recreational activities. As a result, staff are working on a suite of recommended changes to the catchment management rules - based on the public feedback received - to address issues raised in the submissions.

This suite of recommended changes will be available for public review in mid-May, as part of the agenda for the hearings on the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026. More information on the Hearings Committee process is available in the ‘Next Steps’ section.

What are the proposed amendments related to hunting and trapping?

DCC staff recommend the following two amendments be made to the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 with the result that access to 'restricted' and 'open' catchments for the purposes of hunting and trapping would need DCC approval:

  1. Remove ‘hunting’ and ‘trapping’ from clause 4.12. Clause 4.12 lists activities that can be undertaken in 'restricted' catchments without any restriction on access;
  2. Expand clause 4.13 ('open' catchments) to make it clear that DCC approval is also required for hunting and trapping in open catchments.

Reasons for the proposed amendments to hunting and trapping rules

During the analysis of submissions, DCC staff identified an issue relating to the proposed water supply catchment management rules. The proposed rules, as drafted, would have enabled unrestricted access to ‘restricted’ and ‘open’ catchments for the purposes of hunting and trapping. This conflicts with a rule in the DCC’s Reserves and Beaches Bylaw 2017, which also applies to the DCC’s water supply catchment lands. Under the Reserves and Beaches Bylaw 2017, access for the purposes of hunting and trapping is by permission only.

In addition, prior to the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 being made publicly available for consultation, access to these catchments for the purposes of hunting and trapping was by DCC permission only. Importantly these proposed amendments do not introduce any new restrictions, but simply maintain the existing access arrangements applied prior to public consultation.

Maps of the “Open” and “Restricted” catchment areas defined in the Draft Proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 maps.

Why are we seeking further feedback on hunting and trapping?

To ensure a transparent and fair process, the Council is providing an opportunity for feedback on these specific amendments prior to the submission hearings, in accordance with section 83(3) of the Local Government Act 2002.

Please also note only feedback on the amendments to clauses 4.12 and 4.13 of the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 will be accepted.

Submissions received on other aspects of the proposed catchment management rules during the 2 March – 2 April public consultation period will be considered by a Hearings Committee in late-May 2026, alongside any feedback received on the amendments to proposed clauses 4.12 and 4.13.

Next Steps

The Hearings Committee will meet in late-May 2026 to consider all submissions received on the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026. The Hearings Committee will then make any recommendations to Council it deems necessary to address the points raised by submitters. The Council will determine any final changes to the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026 before it becomes operative. The timeline below shows the process.

Timeline

Approved for consultation

24 February 2026

Public consultation

2 March 2026 – 2 April 2026

Additional public consultation on catchment access rules for hunting and trapping.

28 April – 10 May 2026

Hearings

22 May 2026

Decision

24 June 2026

  • Consultation information

    The Water Supply Bylaw 2026 is the proposed replacement for the Dunedin City Council’s existing Water Bylaw (2011). It sets out rules for connection to and use of the public water supply network. It responds to current national water legislation and Dunedin’s growth needs.

    The proposed bylaw reflects:

    • Changes to national drinking water legislation and standards
    • Learnings from operating under the 2011 bylaw
    • The need for clearer, more consistent rules for the use of the water supply network
    • Ongoing growth and development across Dunedin

    The goal is to ensure the water network remains safe, reliable, and fit for the future.

    Would this bylaw change how I apply for a new water connection?

    Yes, the proposed bylaw would introduce a clear three‑step approval process for new water supply connections. The three-step process aims to ensure that applications for new connections have appropriate consideration by the applicant and the Council of the network’s capacity to provide the proposed supply. It would also ensure that the supply connection can be provided in a way that does not adversely affect the safety and integrity of the network.

    What is the difference between “ordinary” and “extraordinary” water supply?

    The proposed bylaw provides clearer definitions:

    • Ordinary supply

    Ordinary use’ means the use of water solely for domestic purposes in a dwelling. It includes water use for accommodation rental activities in a residential unit, for example water use at an Airbnb. Ordinary supply remains unmetered, and charging is through rates.

    • Extraordinary supply

    Extraordinary use’ means any water use other than ‘ordinary use’. This includes (but is not limited to): commercial and industrial use, water use at properties in specified zones and water use at properties larger than 1 hectare in specified zones. Extraordinary supplies are metered and charged based on actual water use.

    Will water charging change for customers?

    No, the new bylaw would not change how water is paid for. No changes to how customers are charged are proposed.

    • Ordinary water supply would continue to be paid for through rates.
    • Restricted flow supply would continue to be paid for through rates.
    • Extraordinary supply would continue to be metered and charged by volume and associated fees.

    I am not connected to the DCC’s water supply network – would the proposed bylaw affect me?

    Yes. Although the ‘Conditions of Supply’ provisions would not apply to non-DCC water supplies (e.g. self-supply via a bore or rainwater, or supply via a private networked community supply), other provisions of the proposed bylaw that manage protection of the water supply network, breaches and administration of the bylaw would apply to everyone in Dunedin.

    What are infringement offences?

    Infringement offences are offences punishable by an infringement notice, issued by a DCC Compliance Officer, and associated fine. These offences include building near or discharging into the water supply without authorisation, connecting to the water supply network without authorisation, and failing to notify the Council of a notifiable risk or hazard. See page 27 of the draft bylaw for a full list.

    What is the DCC's policy on Boundary Backflow Prevention and what is the relationship with the proposed Bylaw?

    The relationship between a Boundary Backflow Prevention policy and the proposed Bylaw is that the policy sets out the appropriate level of boundary backflow prevention for each water supply connection, as per the requirements of the proposed Bylaw.

    The purpose of the Boundary Backflow Prevention policy is therefore to:

    • Guide the implementation of the boundary backflow prevention rules in the proposed Water Supply Bylaw 2026, and
    • Ensure the DCC fulfils its duties and obligations in relation to boundary backflow prevention under the Water Services Act 2021 and associated regulations (Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, specifically D3.1 – D3.5).

    The Boundary Backflow Prevention policy will align with industry best practice outlined in Water New Zealand’s Code of Practice regarding the approach to assessing backflow hazard risk and will be in place when the new Bylaw comes into effect.

 

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